Note: This post is not in defense of any pet food that is contaminated with a pathogenic bacteria, especially E. coli. The purpose of this post is to keep the FDA responsible for its actions.
July 29, 2025 FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine issues an “Advisory: Do not feed some lots of Darwin's natural pet products pet food because of E. coli O157: H7 and salmonella.”
“FDA warns pet owners that a selection of Darwin's natural pet products Beef Dog Food made by Arrow Reliance, Inc. tested positive for Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) O157: H7 which is associated with a human disease.”
FDA says: “In August 2024, a four -year -old child was infected with E. coli O157: H7 and then developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (house), which required hospital stay and extensive follow -up.”
Concern: Although it was very serious, the child's disease was a year ago (August 2024). Why has it taken a whole year to track this disease?
Pet food was not tested until ten months after the child's disease. “Closed product from the three affected parties, obtained from household freezers from the sick man, was tested by a private third -party laboratory in May and June 2025.” The FDA did not reveal why testing of pet foods was delayed for ten months (after the child's illness).
FDA continues: “The child had direct contact with the family dog but no known direct contact with the contaminated dog food, which indicates that E. coli O157: H7 exposure may have been through contact with the family dog or through objects or surfaces in contact with the waste of the dog that ate the food.”
“According to the complaint listed to the FDA, a dog in the household began that exclusively for Darwin's pet food vomit one day before the child became ill.”
But … later in the FDA press message, the agency says: “Symptoms can start anywhere from a few days up to nine days after exposure.”
Concern: The time frame for potential PET -Food -related exposure provided by the FDA does not match the child's disease. If the symptoms begin “A few days” after exposure, and the dog was ill “one day before The child became ill ” – Something is off.
The FDA press message says: “The FDA recommended that Arrow Reliance, Inc. remember the product parties that tested positive for E. coli O157: H7 and salmonella. So far the company has not recalled the affected products.”
But … the agency's press release does not say pet owners to “Darwin's natural pet products are sold online through a subscription service”They are not legally obliged to issue a notice of revocation of press releases.
Per one e -mail from the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine to us 2022:
The FDA knows that the federal law does not require Darwins to issue a statement on revocation of press release, the agency knows that the only requirement Darwins must meet is direct communication with its customers. Nevertheless, the agency made a public announcement in violation of this.
And at the end of the FDA's advisory notice of the agency indicates: “The federal food, drug and cosmetic action requires that all animal food, such as human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contains no harmful substances and truthfully noticed.”
Federal law may require the above, But the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine does not really execute these laws.
The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine allows direct pet food to:
- Source -wounded animal material that condemned beef or chicken without disclosure on the pet matet label to inform consumers;
- Source non-relaxed animal materials such as dead, decomposition of carcasses without disclosure on the pet matthet to inform consumers;
- Label a pet food as “made with real chicken”, show pictures of roasted chicken on the label and site, while the chicken ingredient in the pet food is USDA damned chicken and never roasted.
The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has the courage to tell the public about what the federal law requires of pet food, when the agency's director stated in response to a citizen's presentation: “We do not believe that the use of sick animals or animals that died other than through slaughter to make animal food constitutes a safety problem and we intend to continue to exercise enforcement.”
The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine's Pants is on fire.
Per document provided by Darwin's pet food (for consideration in the 2025 list), the company sources 100% USDA inspected and passed meat (human class).
If the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine wants consumer confidence in their pet food regulation, we propose that the agency start by executing existing law – all laws, all styles of pet food. We also propose that the agency stop mislead the public in public counseling.
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author buyers watch out, co -authors dinner pawsible
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